DP factions fight
Dec 31, 2004
BICKERING and in-fighting within the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), is far from over.
By Cyprian Musoke and Halima Shaban
BICKERING and in-fighting within the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), is far from over.
Pandemonium broke out at celebrations to mark the ninth anniversary of UYD at Pope Paul Memorial centre on Thursday, when supporters of a UYD faction tried to disrupt the meeting.
The group, headed by deposed Secretary General Michael Mabikke and calling themselves the Youth Brigade, stormed the function, sparking off a furious fight with the organising group.
The Youth Brigade is affiliated to presidential aspirant Nasser Sebaggala.
The meeting was called by the National Executive Committee, headed by Gerald Otto and the secretary General, Mutema David.
They are affiliated to Dr. Paul Ssemogerere’s faction.
The attack, led by former Makerere University Guild president Dennis Mukasa Mbidde, degenerated into an hour of punches and blows, as the Police struggled to restore calm.
After the groups punched their way into the compound, followed by several arrests by the Police, Mbidde and his group left the venue, but a few remained within.
They had circulated a document disputing the legitimacy of the meeting and its leaders.
“Those that invited the public did not have the constitutional powers to do so in accordance with the UYD constitution. We also anticipate that since the gathering was not convened in good faith, chaos may ensue between the participants who will be surprised by such details as may obtain in the course of the proceedings,†the document said.
As calm returned and the meeting resumed inside the hall, one of the Youth Brigades grabbed the microphone from Mutema as he started his speech and the war resumed.
The attacker and his remaining fighters were escorted to the police trucks with kicks, punches and jabs.
Prof. Joseph Mukiibi said the problems within the group emanated from the practice of supporting individuals instead of the party.
“We saw an eruption here, we have seen other eruptions, and shall see many more,†he said.
DP national legal adviser Edward Muguluma said instead of bickering, the party should focus on fronting a candidate to defeat President Yoweri Museveni in 2006.
“You have fought hard to suppress our attackers and taken them to the Police. Otherwise, we could have easily killed them (Youth Brigade) here,†Muguluma said.
BICKERING and in-fighting within the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), the youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), is far from over.
Pandemonium broke out at celebrations to mark the ninth anniversary of UYD at Pope Paul Memorial centre on Thursday, when supporters of a UYD faction tried to disrupt the meeting.
The group, headed by deposed Secretary General Michael Mabikke and calling themselves the Youth Brigade, stormed the function, sparking off a furious fight with the organising group.
The Youth Brigade is affiliated to presidential aspirant Nasser Sebaggala.
The meeting was called by the National Executive Committee, headed by Gerald Otto and the secretary General, Mutema David.
They are affiliated to Dr. Paul Ssemogerere’s faction.
The attack, led by former Makerere University Guild president Dennis Mukasa Mbidde, degenerated into an hour of punches and blows, as the Police struggled to restore calm.
After the groups punched their way into the compound, followed by several arrests by the Police, Mbidde and his group left the venue, but a few remained within.
They had circulated a document disputing the legitimacy of the meeting and its leaders.
“Those that invited the public did not have the constitutional powers to do so in accordance with the UYD constitution. We also anticipate that since the gathering was not convened in good faith, chaos may ensue between the participants who will be surprised by such details as may obtain in the course of the proceedings,†the document said.
As calm returned and the meeting resumed inside the hall, one of the Youth Brigades grabbed the microphone from Mutema as he started his speech and the war resumed.
The attacker and his remaining fighters were escorted to the police trucks with kicks, punches and jabs.
Prof. Joseph Mukiibi said the problems within the group emanated from the practice of supporting individuals instead of the party.
“We saw an eruption here, we have seen other eruptions, and shall see many more,†he said.
DP national legal adviser Edward Muguluma said instead of bickering, the party should focus on fronting a candidate to defeat President Yoweri Museveni in 2006.
“You have fought hard to suppress our attackers and taken them to the Police. Otherwise, we could have easily killed them (Youth Brigade) here,†Muguluma said.